Update - Police search for Vannewkirk resumes

Published: Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 3:58 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 3:58 p.m.

Update: Police and search crews were working today at a field in Pender County where an unidentified body was found on Tuesday.

A helicopter hovered over the area, off Hoover Road, as the search continued for a missing Wilmington woman.

Medical testing determined the remains found in a Hampstead field Tuesday morning are likely not those of Shannon Rippy Vannewkirk, Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous said Thursday afternoon.

“This is an unfortunate surprise,” Evangelous said. “This discovery is a surprise for all of us.”

The first-degree murder charges against James Bradley, who was arrested Tuesday in connection with Vannewkirk's death, will remain, New Hanover and Pender County District Attorney Ben David said at Thursday's news conference.

Evangelous, who did not take any questions because of the ongoing nature of the investigation, did not give any indication as to the identity of the person whose remains were found in the Pender County field. The chief did say the investigation into Vannewkirk's presumed death will continue.

“We are still pursuing Shannon's case as a homicide investigation and will continue to search for her body,” the chief said.

Detectives spent much of the day Thursday in the same field where the remains were found Tuesday, said Linda Rawley, a police department spokeswoman. Steve Mott, Vannewkirk's employer and friend, was developing the field where the remains were found to grow vegetables. Bradley also worked for Mott.

“They're still onto it and the CUE Network is gonna get out and keep searching,” Dayton said. “We'll bring her home sooner or later.”

Despite his optimism that his sister will be found, Dayton said he was devastated by the news that the remains weren't hers.

Bradley is also a suspect in the death of the unidentified person, Evangelous said.

The Wilmington Police Department and Pender County Sheriff's Office have opened a joint homicide investigation in an effort to identify the remains.

“We're going to continue to work together as it relates to this new development, and we're going to continue to work to bring justice to this entire situation,” David said.

In 1990, Bradley was convicted of first-degree murder in the slaying of his 8-year-old stepdaughter, Ivy Gipson, in Fayetteville.

Gipson's body was found after Bradley confessed to killing her and putting her body in a Dumpster, according to news articles. Investigators located Ivy's body in a landfill where the Dumpsters from her trailer park were unloaded.

Bradley was sentenced to life in prison for the homicide but was paroled in February 2013 after serving 23 years in prison.

Elisha Tucker, 34, is the only woman listed on the CUE Center's website as being missing from New Hanover or Pender counties in the past year.

Tucker was last seen by family members on Aug. 21, 2013, and reported missing on Dec. 10. Police suspended their search for Tucker about a week later, a spokeswoman said at the time, after several people said they'd seen her around Wilmington. Anyone with information about either case is encouraged to contact the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3609 or via Text-a-Tip at Tip708.

<p><b>Update:</b> Police and search crews were working today at a field in Pender County where an unidentified body was found on Tuesday.</p><p>A helicopter hovered over the area, off Hoover Road, as the search continued for a missing Wilmington woman.</p><p>Medical testing determined the remains found in a Hampstead field Tuesday morning are likely not those of Shannon Rippy Vannewkirk, Wilmington Police Chief <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9935"><b>Ralph Evangelous</b></a> said Thursday afternoon.</p><p>“This is an unfortunate surprise,” Evangelous said. “This discovery is a surprise for all of us.”</p><p>The first-degree murder charges against James Bradley, who was arrested Tuesday in connection with Vannewkirk's death, will remain, New Hanover and Pender County District Attorney <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic80"><b>Ben David</b></a> said at Thursday's news conference.</p><p>Evangelous, who did not take any questions because of the ongoing nature of the investigation, did not give any indication as to the identity of the person whose remains were found in the Pender County field. The chief did say the investigation into Vannewkirk's presumed death will continue.</p><p>“We are still pursuing Shannon's case as a homicide investigation and will continue to search for her body,” the chief said.</p><p>Detectives spent much of the day Thursday in the same field where the remains were found Tuesday, said Linda Rawley, a police department spokeswoman. Steve Mott, Vannewkirk's employer and friend, was developing the field where the remains were found to grow vegetables. Bradley also worked for Mott.</p><p>Shawn Dayton, Vannewkirk's brother, remains confident that police will find his sister.</p><p>“They're still onto it and the CUE Network is gonna get out and keep searching,” Dayton said. “We'll bring her home sooner or later.”</p><p>Despite his optimism that his sister will be found, Dayton said he was devastated by the news that the remains weren't hers.</p><p>Bradley is also a suspect in the death of the unidentified person, Evangelous said.</p><p>The Wilmington Police Department and Pender County Sheriff's Office have opened a joint homicide investigation in an effort to identify the remains.</p><p>“We're going to continue to work together as it relates to this new development, and we're going to continue to work to bring justice to this entire situation,” David said.</p><p>In 1990, Bradley was convicted of first-degree murder in the slaying of his 8-year-old stepdaughter, Ivy Gipson, in Fayetteville. </p><p>Gipson's body was found after Bradley confessed to killing her and putting her body in a Dumpster, according to news articles. Investigators located Ivy's body in a landfill where the Dumpsters from her trailer park were unloaded.</p><p>Bradley was sentenced to life in prison for the homicide but was paroled in February 2013 after serving 23 years in prison.</p><p>Elisha Tucker, 34, is the only woman listed on the CUE Center's website as being missing from New Hanover or Pender counties in the past year.</p><p>Tucker was last seen by family members on Aug. 21, 2013, and reported missing on Dec. 10. Police suspended their search for Tucker about a week later, a spokeswoman said at the time, after several people said they'd seen her around Wilmington. Anyone with information about either case is encouraged to contact the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3609 or via Text-a-Tip at Tip708.</p><p><i></p><p>Adam Wagner: 343-2096</p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @adamwagner1990</i></p>